Spring-actuated reel



J.- E, MINTY May 5, 1931.

SPRING ACTUATED REEL Filed Oct. l2 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. E. MINTY May 5, 1931.

SPRING ACTUATED REEL Filed Oct. l2, 1928 2 Sheets-5h96?l 2 w Z5 Z4 Z5 Patented May 5, 193l` UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE f JOHN E. MINTY, F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR '.lO` SHAW-CRANE-PUTNAM MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF MUSKEGON, IIYIIICHIGrA1\T` SPRING-ACTUATED REEL Application led October 12, 1928. Serial No. 312,066.

The main objects of this inventionv are: First, to provide a4 spring actuated reel which is well adapted for use on cranes with lifting magnets-or motor driven grab buckets A or the like, andother work which might be' generally designated as heavy work.

Second,to provide a spring winding reel in which the spring -is soconnected and associated with its Adirectly coacting partsv as to minimize the kinking and like strains which are likely to break the spring.

Third, to provide in a spring winding reel an improved connection for the spring which acts as a clutch orbrake member when the spring is ,fullyunwound to' prevent overrunning.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.- 4

A structure which embodies the features of my inventionis clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which l Fig. 1 is an end elevation looking from the right of Fig. 2 with a portionofthedrum l broken away.

Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 2--2 of Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the parts being shown in full lines for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 3 is atransverse"l section on line 3-3 ofFig.2. 1' f Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line44 of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawing, 1 representsfa supporting bar or bracket on which are bearing supports 2 and .for the shaft 4; This shaft is a non-rotating shaft: eXceptas it isA rotated for adjustment, and is provided with a ratchet 5 withwhich the holding pawl 6V coacts. The ratchet lever 7 isprovided with a pawl 8 coacting with the vratchet 5. c

The drum 9 is rotatably mountedl on .the

shaft and adapted toreceivejthe cable, as 10.-

The wires of this cable are connected to the The details of these electrical connections, however, form no partof this invention and, therefore, are not further illustrated or dec, described herein. VThe structure illustrated is adapted for a rings 11 with which the brushes 12 coa-ct.`

pair of actuating springs, connected in tandem relation, Vand while my improvements are especially f adapted for structures such as illustrated, employing more than one spring, certain features thereof areequally well adapted to structures employing a single spr1ng.

In the embodiment illustrated I provide a hub 13 which is keyed to the shaft, anda hub 14 rotatable on the shaft. Both of these hubs are provided with groove-like peripheral recesses 15 into which the segmental connectors 16 collapse4 when the springs are wound upon the hubsas shown in Fig. 2. These grooves are narrower than the springs so that the springs are supported by the hubs, the connections beingpreferably of such dimensions, however,ias to complement the surface of the hubs when collapsed. A

The inner ends of the springs 17 are connected to the swinging ends of `these connecf tors 16 by means of the segmental coupling members 18 which are riveted on the inner sides of the springs and pivoted at 19 to the swinging ends of the connectors. The connectors are pivoted to the hubs by means of Ythe pins 20.

The rotatable hub 14 is provided with a flange-like spring holder 21 which overhangs the hub 13. A correspondingannular holder 22 isconnected to the drum, and in the embodiment illustrated is formed integrally with one section of the drum. This holder 22 overhangs the rotatable hub 14.v These holders are provided with segmental inwardly facing recesses 23 adapted to receive the outer connectors 24 which are pivoted at 25 to collapse into the recesses. The holders` are connected to the outer en ds of the springs by the rivets 26 so that when the connectors are collapsed as shown'in Fig. 3 they constitute bridges for the recesses and complement the inner surface of the holders in providing a continuous support for the unwound or expanded spring. 1

By thus arranging the parts, I'have sub` stantially eliminated the tendency for the springs to kink in the winding and unwinding thereof, and the strain on the connections to the spring is minimized. The connectors found highly practical. Ihavenot-attempted to illustrate or describe certain embodiments or adaptations which are possible as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my im- "g: provements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a spring actuated reel, the combination with a shaft, of a drum rotatable on said shaft, spring supporting hubs having peripheral grooves, one of said hubs being keyed to said shaft and the other being rotatable thereon, an annular spring holder on said '3 rotatable hub overhanging said fixed hub,

an annular spring holder on said drum overhanging said rotatable hub overhanging said iixed hub, an annular spring holder on said drinnV overhanging said rotatable hub, said spring holders having inwardly facingsegmental recesses. springs, segmental outer connectors to' which the outer ends of said springs are secured, pivoted to said holders to collapse in their said recesses, segmental inner connectors pivoted to said hubs, and segmental coupling members to which the inner ends of the springs are connected pivoued to the swinging ends of said inner connectors, said inner connectors and coupling members being collapsible in said grooves in said hubs so thatv the springs may wind upon the hubs over the same.

2. In a spring actuated reel, the combination with a shaft, of a drum rotatable on sa id shaft, spring supporting hubs having peripheral grooves, one of said hubs being keyed to said shaft and the other being rotatable thereon, an annular spring holder on said rotatable hub overhanging said fixed hub, an annular spring holder on said drum overhanging said rotatable hub, said spring holders having inwardly facing segmental recesses, springs, segmental outer connectors to which the outer ends of saidsprings are secured pivoted to said holders to collapse in their said recesses, and segmental inner connectors to which the inner ends of the springs are connected pivoted to said hubs to collapse in said grooves thereof.

3. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable on said shaft, a hub having a peripheral groove therein and keyed to said shaft, an annular spring holder having an inwardly facing segmental recess therein connected to said drum7 a spring, an outer segmental connector to which the outer end of said spring is connected pivoted to said holder to collapse in said recesses, an inner segmental connector pivoted to said hub, and a segmental coupling member secured to the inner end of said spring and pivoted to the outer end of said inner connector, said inner connector arm and coupling member being adapted to collapse in said groove in said hub to permit the winding of the spring upon the periphery of the hub.

4. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable on said shaft, a hub having a peripheral groove therein and keyed to said shaft, an annular spring holder having an inwardly facing segmental 'recess therein connected to said drum, a spring, an outer segmental connector to which the outer end of said spring is connected pivoted to said holder to collapse in said recesses, and an inner segmental connector pivoted to said hub and connected to said spring to collapse in said groove in said hub to permit the winding of the spring upon the periphery of the hub.

5. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, a hub having a peripheral groove therein and keyed to said shaft, a spring, connections for the outer end of said spring to said drum, a segmental connector pivoted to said hub, and a segmental coupling member secured to the inner end of said spring and pivoted to the outer end of said inner connector, said connector and coupling member being adapted to collapse in said groove in said hub to permit the winding of the spring upon the periphery of the hub, said inner connector hav ing clutching engagement with said spring when the spring is unwound.

6, In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, a hub having a peripheral groove therein and keyed to said shaft, a spring, connections for the outer end of said spring to said drum, a segmental connector pivoted to said hub and to said spring, said connector being adapted to collapse-in said groove in said hub to permit the winding of the spring upon the periphery of the hub, said inner connector having clutching engagement with said spring when the spring is unwound.

't'. In a spring actuated reel. the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, a. hub having a peripheral groove therein and keyed to said shaft, a spring, connections for the outer end ofsaid spring to said drum, a segmental connector pivoted to said hub and to said spring, said connector being adapted to collapse in said groove in said hub to permit the winding of the spring upon the periphery of the hub and to swing out of said groove to permit the inner end of the spring to rest in supporting engagement with the inner coil thereof.

8. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, a hub on said shaft, a spring, connections for the outer end of said spring to said drum, and a connector pivotally connected to said hub to collapse therein and connected to the in* ner end of said spring, said connector being of such length as to permit it to swing into frictional engagement with the inner coil of said spring when it is unvvound.

9. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, a spring, connectionsfor the outer end of said spring to said drum, and a segmental connector pivotally connected to said shaft and pivotally connected tothe inner end of said spring, said connector being of such length as to permit it to swing into frictional engagement with the inner coil of said spring when it is unvvound.

10. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, a spring, connections for the outer end of said spring to said drum, and a connector pivotally connected to said shaft and connected to the inner end of said spring,rsaid connector being of such length as to permit it to swing into frictional engagement With the inner coil of said spring When it is unvvound.

11. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon, an annular spring holder having 'a segmental recess therein and connected to said drum, a spring, connections for the inner end of said snrino to said shaft and aseomental con-V l r a a nector to which the outer end of said spring is connected pivoted to said holder to collapse in said recess thereof and when collapsed to constitute a bridge member for, said recess. i

l2. In a spring actuated reel, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatable thereon,a spring, connections forsaid spring to the inner end of said shaft, a spring holder connected to said drum, and a segmentalconnecvtion for the outer end of said spring tothe holder pivoted to the holder to collapse there# in and when collapsed complementing the annular spring supporting surface of the holder. i

13. In a spring actuated reel, the combina,- tion of a'shaft, a drum rotatable relatively to said shaft, a hub connected to said shaft, a spring surrounding said hub, an annular spring holder connected to said drum and having an inner cylindrical surface against which the spring expands when unwound and a recess in said inner surface, a arcuately shaped connector pivotally mounted at one end on said holder in saidvrecess and having its free end secured to the outer end of the spring, said connector being arranged to co1- lapse into said recess when the spring is unvvound so that the outer coil of the spring expands uniformly against the holder, and

` means to connect the inner end of the spring to the hub.

14E. In a spring actuated reel, the combina-V tion of a shaft, a drum rotatable on said shaft, a hub connected to said shaft and provided with a recess therein, a spring surrounding said hub, means to connect the outer end of said spring to said drum, a coupling member secured to the inner end of said spring, a connector having one end pivotally mounted on said hub and its other end pivotally connected to said coupling, said connector and coupling being arranged to collapse into the recess in the hub when the spring is Wound, said connector having a laterally projecting portion so that when the spring is unwound,` the projecting portion engages the inner coil of the spring and prevents overrunning. Y

l5, In a spring actuated device, the combination of a shaft, a hub connected to said shaft, a spring surrounding said hub, means connecting the inner end of said spring to said hub permitting the spring to be Wound tightly on the hub or unvvound therefrom Without subjecting the end of the spring to kinking strains, an annular member rotatable relatively to said shaft and having an inner cylindrical surface against which the spring expands When unwound and means connecting the outer end of the spring to said membervpermitting the spring to be Wound or unvvound Without subjecting the end thereof to any kinking strains.

16. In aspring actuated device, the combination of a shaft, a hub on said shaft, a spring surrounding said hub, means connecting the inner end of said spring to said hub permit- Vting the spring to be vWound tightlyon the hub or unwvound therefrom without subi ecting the end of the spring to kinking strains,

an annular member rotatable relatively to said shaft and having an inner cylindrical surface against `which the spring expands `vvhen unvvound and means connecting the outer end of the spring to said member.

17. In a spring actuated device, the combination of a shaft, a hub on said shaft, a spring surrounding said hub, means connecting Vthe inner end of said spring to said hub, an annular member rotatable relatively to said shaft and having an Y inner cylindrical surface against Whichrthe spring expands When un- Wound and means connecting the outer end of the spring to said member permitting the spring to be Wound or unvvound Without subjecting the end thereof to any kinking strains.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my 1 hand.

JOHN E. MINTY. 

